James a



(NoModeL) J. A. AUSTIN.

File and Binder.

No. 233,910. Patented Nov. 2,1880.

NITE

JAMES A. AUSTIN, OF NEWV YORK,

N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND SAMUEL I. KNIGHT, OF SAME PLACE.

FILE AND BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,910, dated November2, 1880,

Application filed May 14, 1880. (N model.)

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. AUSTIN, of New York city, in the State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CombinedFile and Binder, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of modern appliances which are usedwhen, in conducting a large correspondence, various papers, andparticularly letters, are received and required to be stored where theycan be immediate] y accessible during the period of their accumulation,thus serving as a file, and then, after a week, a month, or otherperiod, when I 5 a considerable quantity has accumulated, the whole areremoved and permanently attached together, or bound within covers,constituting a book for subsequent reference.

My invention presents marked advantages over anything for analogouspurposes before known to me.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, andrepresent what I consider the best means of carrying out the in- 2 5vention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device ready to receivethe first letter. Fig. 2 represents the same closed in perspective fromthe back. Fig.3 is a central vertical section through a mass of lettersand their binding-covers and back, showing the pins or spurs bent tohold them. Fig. 4 is a top view of the same ith the top cover thrownback, and Fig. 5 shows a modification where the p 5 plate D hascross-slots and the spurs D are nated by further marks, as A A They arehinged together by the butts O. The depth in the interior is a littlegreater than the thickness of the mass of papers to be accumulated.

D is a strip of brass or other suitable metal let into a recess in thebase A of the body. D D, 85c, are long spurs of brass or other bendablemetal extending upward from the plate D, and pointed, as shown.

D D &c., are shorter spurs attached to the other side of the plate D,and lying tor the present in a plane parallel to the lower surface ofsaid plate. The bottom A is recessed, to also allow for these shortspurs D Eis a locking-plate inserted through a slot in the back A of thebody of the box. It 6 serves to lock down the plate D.

The several letters as they are received are extended properly in anapproximately plane condition, and, having been previously pricked toinitiate the holes, are engaged on the pins D and forced down thereon.Thus conditioned the box may be closed by closing the cover B, and theseveral letters may be any time referred to by simply opening the boxagain and manipulating the letters in the same manner as 7 5 the leavesof a book.

The cover (designated, when necessary, by the simple letter B) iscomposed of the main plate B, back B and an outer or front end, 13 Thelatter is hinged to the part B by butts b, and is adapted to perform twoimportant functions: One, it serves as a means of effectively proteotingthe outer or front edges of the several papers M during the periodwhile they are stored in the box. Another, it serves 8 as a means forpricking or initiating the holes in the letters which receive the longspurs D. This latter function is effected by the aid of short teeth f,fixed on the inner face of the folding part B The box is opened wide,the letter laid on the inner face of the cover in the proper position,and the hinged end B is pressed down smartly upon it. The teeth farethus pricked through the letter in the proper positions. Holes are madein the body B of the cover to allow the points of the teethfto enterfreely. I face the surface adjacent to the holes with metal to preservetheir form,

very closely matching to the teeth f, so that they will impress sharpand clear holes in the respective letters.

When it is desired to remove the letters with their fastening means fromthe box and to bind them in the covers, the locking-piece E is removed,and the papers M, with the strip D and its spurs D D removed from thebox and transferred to the binding or book covers. These latter partsare designated GH I, Gr being the flexible back, H H the main bodies ofthe covers, and I I inner flaps or fasteningstrips, flexibly connectedto the interiors of the book-covers near the back, and formed withperforations 7: corresponding to the spurs D. The covers being broughtinto the proper position, the spurs D are inserted through the holes t'in the corresponding flap I, and when thrust through as far as they willgo by compressing the mass of letters M with tolerable force theprotruding ends of the metal D are clinched down. Where a number ofthese spurs D are employed they should be clinched down by folding thealternate spurs in opposite directions. This engages one side of themass of papers with the cover.

Now, the whole is turned over on the table and I prepare to make thehitherto idle spurs D available by extending them upward at right anglesto the plate D. The next step is to insert their points through theholes 2' in the corresponding flap I. WVhen this has been done and theyhave been fully thrust through these short spurs D are clinched down toengage them strongly with their corresponding flap I. These spurs Dshould also be folded alternatelyin opposite directions. NVhen this iseffected the book is complete, and the covers may be closed on the massof letters to close the book or opened to expose the mass in the obviousmanner.

Insurance and railroad companies or other concerns having reports fromagents or other papers of uniform, or nearly uniform, size may hold themtemporarily or permanently by my file and binder with great facility,very completely, and with little expense.

The transfer from the file to the binder may be either at irregularintervals when a sufficient quantity of papers are accumulated orregularly when a certain time has passed. In

either case the book as thus produced should be properly marked anddated before filing away. A stock of the plates D, with their spurs D Dbeing kept at hand, a fresh one is introduced in the box as soon as theloaded one is removed, and, on being locked by the locking-piece E, thefiling is ready to go on as before.

It will be observed that my spurs D D are not round, but flattened in aplane parallel to the back. This arrangement allows a liberal width ofspur without weakening the paper or increasing the risk of the lettergetting loose by tearing out. It also allows the metal to be folded downeasily in the required position. The mode of attaching these spurs whichI have adopted in these experiments is to punch corresponding long holesin the plate D, insert the strips forming the spurs, and secure them bysolder.

To aid in holding the sheets in position for pricking theholes by theteeth f,Ican use marks alone; but I prefer to use projections or pins onthe under face of B, as indicated by K in Fig. 1.

Modifications may be made in the forms of the details. The number of thespurs D D may be varied. I prefer for ordinary letters five spurs. Eachmay be aboutthree-sixteenths of an inch wide.

Fig. 5 shows a modification in which the plate D is formed of twothicknesses of thin metal pivoted together. The recesses for the foldedspurs D are produced by making crossslots in one of the plates at thepoints required.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a file and binder, the flat spurs D Ddetachably fixed in a single plate, D, with their fiat faces in a planeparallel to the back G of the book, as herein specified.

2. The plate D, having the two sets of spurs D D adapted to serve, incombination with the paper M and book-covers G H and inner flaps, I,with their holes 6, as herein specified.

3. In a file and binder, the cover B, having a hinged front, 13*, withteeth f, adapted to serve the double functions of producing the holesfor the binding-pins and also of covering and protecting the front edgesof the sheets M, as herein specified.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand, at New York city, N.Y., this 10th day of May, 1880, in the presence oftwo subscribingwitnesses.

J. A. AUSTIN.

WVitnesses THOMAS D. STETSON, CHARLES C. STETSON.

